On Thursday evening and Friday morning, ABC, NBC, and CBS all touted a
"surge" in sign-ups for ObamaCare ahead of Monday's March 31 deadline.
What none of the networks mentioned was that the percentage of young,
healthy enrollees was still short of the minimum necessary to sustain the health care law.

On ABC's World News on Thursday, anchor Diane Sawyer hailed the enrollment numbers as an "achievement" for President Obama as she proclaimed: "ObamaCare has hit a new milestone. More than 6 million people have now signed up. That's almost the original goal of 7 million. They have seen a surge in this final sprint before the deadline on March 31st..." [Listen to the audio]

Fill-in anchor Sharyn Alfonsi promoted the identical talking point on CBS Evening News that night:
"There has been a dramatic increase in the number of Americans signing
up for private insurance under the President's health care law. Today,
the White House said enrollments topped 6 million..."

On Friday's NBC Today, substitute news reader Tamron Hall announced: "Well,
more than 6 million Americans have now signed up for President Obama's
new health care plan, just days before the March 31st deadline." The headline on screen declared an "ObamaCare Milestone."

On Good Morning America, fill-in news reader Amy Robach used
the same phrase: "Well, a new milestone for ObamaCare. The White House
saying more than six million people have already signed up for insurance
ahead of Monday's deadline."

CBS This Morning co-host Charlie Rose proclaimed: "Sign-ups
for the Affordable Care Act are surging ahead of Monday's deadline. The
White House says more than six million Americans enrolled with private
insurance plans under the law."

All three networks did acknowledge that the latest sign-up numbers were
"still short of the original target of 7 million people."

Only ABC took note of dwindling public support for ObamaCare, with
Robach telling GMA viewers about "a poll showing support for the health
care law dropping to a new low."

The latest AP-GFK poll showed only 26% of Americans support the health care law.

Here is a transcript of the March 27-28 network coverage of ObamaCare:

CBS Evening News
3/27/14
6:42 PM ET

SHARYN ALFONSI: There has been a dramatic increase in the number of
Americans signing up for private insurance under the President's health
care law. Today, the White House said enrollments topped 6 million,
however that's still short of the original estimate of 7 million by
March 31.

ABC World News
3/27/14
6:44 PM ET

DIANE SAWYER: The President overseas tonight. But an achievement for
him here at home. ObamaCare has hit a new milestone. More than 6 million
people have now signed up. That's almost the original goal of 7
million. They have seen a surge in this final sprint before the deadline
on March 31st, which is Monday, when open enrollment will end.

Today
03/28/14
7:14 AM ET

TAMRON HALL: Well, more than 6 million Americans have now signed up
for President Obama's new health care plan, just days before the March
31st deadline.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: ObamaCare Milestone; More Than Six Million Americans Have Signed Up]

That fulfills a goal set by the Congressional Budget Office and
embraced by the White House. But it's still short of the original target
of 7 million people.

Monday is the last day to enroll for ObamaCare, although the deadline
has been extended for those who have started the application process.

Good Morning America
3/28/14
7:09 AM ET

AMY ROBACH: Well, a new milestone for ObamaCare. The White House
saying more than six million people have already signed up for insurance
ahead of Monday's deadline. That's one million in just the past week,
despite a poll showing support for the health care law dropping to a new
low.

CHARLIE ROSE: Sign-ups for the Affordable Care Act are surging ahead
of Monday's deadline. The White House says more than six million
Americans enrolled with private insurance plans under the law. That
falls short of the original goal of seven million, but exceeds a
recently revised estimate. The Obama administration be allowed to buy
coverage after the deadline if they've already started the process.

Federal employees and military personnel can donate to the Media Research Center through the Combined Federal Campaign or CFC. To donate to the MRC, use CFC #12489. Visit the CFC website for more information about giving opportunities in your workplace.